DE102012022580A1 - Plastic granulate obtained from a melt of a mixture of a polymer with additive as raw material useful as a material or a material additive for producing a plastic injection molded part and/or in the extrusion and/or in the fleece production - Google Patents

Abstract

Plastic granulate obtained from a melt of a mixture of a polymer with at least an additive as a raw material, is claimed. The melt is molded into strands through nozzles. The cutting of strands into separate sections is carried out after cooling the strands. The material of the plastic granulate has a weight fraction of at least 50% polymer and a weight fraction of at least 2% perfluorobutanesulfonic acid. An independent claim is also included for producing the plastic granulate based on the polymer, comprising melting the polymer together with at least one additive and molding into strands through at least one nozzle, where the raw material is made of polymer and additive, and an amount of up to 50% perfluorobutanesulfonic acid is added as the additive to the polymer before and/or during melting.

Description

The invention relates to a plastic granules, which is obtained from the melt of a mixture of a polymer with at least one additive as a raw material by the melt is formed into strands via nozzles and after cooling of the strands, a cutting of the strands is performed in individual sections and its use

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a plastic granules based on a polymer, wherein for the production of the plastic granules, the polymer is melted together with at least one additive as a raw material and formed by one or more nozzles into strands, wherein the strands after cooling of the strands in Sections are cut to length.

It is known to equip plastic components or spunbonded nonwovens by a surface coating with corresponding materials oelophob, d. H. that they have an oil repellent property.

A disadvantage of this known approach of a surface coating is that the applied to the surface of the plastic components or the fibers of a spunbonded coatings change under the environmental influences or lose their effect and lost in particular by abrasion, so that the oleophobic effect decreases over time and finally completely eliminated.

The object of the invention is to provide a plastic granules having a durable oleophobic equipment, such that this plastic granules can serve as a raw material for the production of plastic components, spunbonded fabrics, etc., so that the products produced from the plastic granules also have a permanent oleophobic property ,

A further object of the invention is to specify a production method for producing such a plastic granulate based on a polymer, by means of which a plastic granulate can be produced, which has a permanent oleophobic property.

This object is achieved by a plastic granules according to claim 1, its use according to claim 5 and the manufacturing method according to claim 6. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims.

It is particularly advantageous in the case of the plastic granules which are obtained from the melt of a mixture of a polymer with at least one additive as raw material by shaping the melt into strands via nozzles and after the strands have cooled down, cutting the strands into individual sections in that the material of the plastic granulate has a proportion by weight of at least 50% of polymer and a proportion by weight of at least 2% of perfluorobutanesulphonic acid (C ₄ HF ₉ O ₃ S).

In particular, polyolefin and / or polypropylene can be used as the polymer.

By this is meant that the granules have a homogeneous distribution of the perfluorobutanesulfonic acid in the material, which is ensured by the fact that the perfluorobutanesulfonic acid as well as the polymer goes into melt and thus in the molten phase, a completely homogeneous distribution of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid in the material is brought about. The melting of the raw material is carried out in an extruder.

Due to the perfluorobutanesulfonic acid in the material, the plastic parts produced from or with the plastic granulate according to the invention, such as plastic injection molded parts, nonwovens and the like, have an oil, water and alcohol-repellent surface.

Particularly advantageous in the use of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid is that they are relatively short chains (C4). The big advantage in terms of environmental compatibility and lies in the half-life of about 1 month. Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid, like the polymer, is fully melted, i. H. that a homogeneous distribution is brought about and the melt contains no particles.

It is particularly advantageous in the use of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid that it is biodegradable within a short time and the granules according to the invention are therefore suitable for the production of a wide variety of environmentally compatible products using the granules as raw material.

The granules are produced by cutting off the cooled strands which are produced from the melt through nozzles, wherein sections of a few millimeters in length are cut off so that the granules are free-flowing and, in particular, suitable for being packaged in bags or sacks. Plastic granules are the typical form of supply of thermoplastic materials from raw material manufacturers for the plastics processing industry. It's because of his Free-flowing a bulk such as sand and thus as easy as this to transport.

After the polymerization and the addition of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid, the plastic in the extruder initially exists as a melt. This is now formed into strands via nozzles and cooled in air or water. Then a rotating knife cuts the strands into a few millimeters long sections, the granules. This can now be transported in pipelines or packed in sacks or other containers.

Particularly preferably, the material of the plastic granules has a weight fraction of up to 50% of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid.

In many cases, such plastic granules are also referred to as so-called masterbatch. The term masterbatch is understood to mean plastic additives in the form of granules with levels of additives - in this case the perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (C ₄ HF ₉ O ₃ S) -, which are higher than in the end use. They are added to the natural plastic (raw polymer) to change the properties and lead according to the invention to an oleophobic equipment of the plastic. Masterbatches increase process reliability compared to pastes, powders or liquid additives and are very easy to process.

By mixing the plastic granules with a weight fraction of up to 50% of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid and other polymers then the desired proportion of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid in the material of the final product and thus the desired oil, water and alcohol-repellent surface can be produced on plastics.

Preferably, a proportion of up to 50% perfluorobutanesulfonic acid is added to the raw material before and / or during melting. In this way, a proportion by weight of up to 50% of perfluorobutanesulphonic acid in the material of the plastic granulate can be brought about, whereby a homogeneous distribution of the perfluorobutanesulphonic acid in the material of the plastic granulate is guaranteed by the addition occurring before and / or during the melting.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the material of the plastic granules has one or more additional additives. By adding a further additive or several further additives to the melt, the material of the plastic granulate can be given further advantageous properties.

It is particularly preferable to use the plastic granules according to the invention as material or material additive for the production of plastic injection molded parts and / or in extrusion and / or in nonwoven production.

It is particularly advantageous that the material of the plastic injection molded parts and nonwovens, the fibers of the web have a homogeneous distribution of the oleophobic agent, and thereby accidental washing or removal of the active ingredient from the component surfaces and the fibers is avoided, resulting in only coated components and fibers can happen, with the result that the oleophobic effect is eliminated.

When used in extrusion, the plastic granules according to the invention can in turn be further processed together with other materials such as pure polymer and / or other additives to produce plastic parts, granules and the like with the desired composition of the plastic to achieve desired material properties.

Particularly advantageous is the use of the granules according to the invention for the production of a spunbonded fabric, wherein the granules are heated as raw material in an extruder for fiber production and pressed under high pressure through a spinneret.

Nonwoven or short nonwoven is a textile fabric made of individual fibers. For the purposes of the invention, the terms fine fiber spunbond, spunbonded, nonwoven or nonwoven fabric are used synonymously irrespective of the specific production method and all nonwoven fabrics are referred to which are referred to in the English language as so-called "nonwoven". A fleece consists of loosely connected fibers, which are not yet connected to each other. The strength of a fleece is based only on the fiber's own liability, but can be influenced by work-up. In order to give the nonwoven special strength properties, it can be further solidified, for which various methods can be used, in particular calendering.

In a first known method of fiber production, a polymer is heated in an extruder and brought to a high pressure. The polymer is pressed in exact dosage by means of the spinning pumps through a die, the so-called spinneret. The polymer exits the die plate as a fine thread still in molten form. It is cooled by a stream of air and still stretched out of the melt. The air flow conveys the threads on a conveyor belt which is designed as a sieve. The threads are fixed by suction under the sieve belt. This thread or fiber fabric is a random fleece, which must be solidified. The solidification can be done by two heated calender rolls by the so-called calendering or by a vapor stream.

In the so-called meltblown process, a polymer is also heated in an extruder for fiber production and brought to a high pressure. The polymer is pressed in exact dosage by means of the spinning pumps through a die, the so-called spinneret. After exiting through the nozzle tip, the polymer is stretched by compressed process hot air, i. H. stretched by means of a high velocity hot air stream. The resulting microfibre fleece is deposited on an air-permeable screen belt. For the production of laminates, the meltblown system can be extended by a unwinding station in front of and behind the nozzle. A calender connects the supplied materials. Thus, single-, two- and multi-layered fabrics are produced.

For the purposes of the invention, the terms fine fiber spunbond, spunbond, nonwoven or nonwoven are used interchangeably irrespective of the specific manufacturing process or the further processing of the fibers and all nonwoven fabrics are included which are referred to in the English language as so-called "nonwovens", in particular all comprising melt-spun fibers and non-woven fabrics made therefrom.

Preferably, after extrusion in the extruder and spinning of the fibers, solidification of the fibers takes place by calendering between two calender rolls. The calender rolls are heated and the fibers are melted, so that the fine fiber spunbonded fabric is solidified and has the desired mechanical properties. During solidification by a calender, one of the two rolls is usually provided with an engraving. At the points of contact, the fibers merge to form a strong nonwoven fabric having the desired mechanical properties and resulting in the nonwoven fabric being suitable for a variety of uses such as filter material.

Particularly advantageous in the process for producing a plastic granules based on a polymer, wherein for the production of the plastic granules, the polymer is melted together with at least one additive as a raw material and formed into strands by one or more nozzles, wherein the strands after cooling the strands into sections are cut, it is that the raw material of polymer and an additive is formed and the polymer before and / or during melting, a proportion of up to 50% perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (C ₄ HF ₉ O ₃ S) is admixed as an additive.

The melting of the raw material is preferably carried out in a screw extruder. The strands are cut to lengths of a few millimeters, in particular less than 5 mm, so that the granules produced as bulk material can be further processed and transported.

Particularly preferably, one or more further additives are added to the raw material before and / or during melting, so that further desired material properties can be brought about.

In particular, polyolefin and / or polypropylene can be used as the polymer.

embodiments

Example 1:

In a first embodiment, polypropylene and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (C ₄ HF ₉ O ₃ S) as a raw material in a ratio of 2 to 1 were fed to an extruder and completely melted. The melt was formed via nozzles for stranding about 3 mm in diameter and cooled in air. The strands were then cut by knife into sections less than 3 mm in length. The plastic granules thus produced had a proportion of 2/3 of polypropylene and 1/3 of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid.

Example 2:

In a second embodiment, polypropylene and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (C ₄ HF ₉ O ₃ S) as a raw material in a ratio of 1 to 1 were fed to an extruder and completely melted. The melt was formed via nozzles for stranding about 3 mm in diameter and cooled in air. The strands were then cut by knife into sections less than 3 mm in length. The plastic granules thus produced had a proportion of 50% of polypropylene and 50% of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid.

Example 3:

In a third embodiment, polypropylene and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (C ₄ HF ₉ O ₃ S) as a raw material in a ratio of 3 to 2 were fed to an extruder and completely melted. The melt was formed via nozzles for stranding about 3 mm in diameter and cooled in air. The strands were then cut by knife into sections less than 3 mm in length. The plastic granules thus produced had a proportion of 60% of polypropylene and 40% of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid.

Example 4:

In a fourth embodiment, polypropylene and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (C ₄ HF ₉ O ₃ S) as a raw material in a ratio of 7 to 3 were fed to an extruder and completely melted. The melt was formed via nozzles for stranding about 3 mm in diameter and cooled in air. The strands were then cut by knife into sections less than 3 mm in length. The plastic granules thus produced had a proportion of 70% of polypropylene and 30% of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid.

Example 5:

In a fifth embodiment, polypropylene and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (C ₄ HF ₉ O ₃ S) as a raw material in a ratio of 4 to 1 were fed to an extruder and completely melted. The melt was formed via nozzles for stranding about 3 mm in diameter and cooled in air. The strands were then cut by knife into sections less than 3 mm in length. The plastic granules thus produced had a proportion of 80% of polypropylene and 20% of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid.

Example 6:

In a sixth embodiment, polypropylene and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (C ₄ HF ₉ O ₃ S) as a raw material in a ratio of 9 to 1 were fed to an extruder and completely melted. The melt was formed via nozzles for stranding about 3 mm in diameter and cooled in air. The strands were then cut by knife into sections less than 3 mm in length. The plastic granules thus produced had a proportion of 90% of polypropylene and 10% of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid.

Example 7:

In a seventh embodiment, polypropylene and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (C ₄ HF ₉ O ₃ S) as a raw material in a ratio of 95 to 5 were fed to an extruder and completely melted. The melt was formed via nozzles for stranding about 3 mm in diameter and cooled in air. The strands were then cut by knife into sections less than 3 mm in length. The plastic granules thus produced had a proportion of 95% of polypropylene and 5% of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid.

Example 8:

In an eighth embodiment, polypropylene and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (C ₄ HF ₉ O ₃ S) as a raw material in a ratio of 98 to 2 were fed to an extruder and completely melted. The melt was formed via nozzles for stranding about 3 mm in diameter and cooled in air. The strands were then cut by knife into sections less than 3 mm in length. The plastic granules thus produced had a proportion of 98% of polypropylene and 2% of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid.

In all embodiments, the plastic granules produced could be further processed without problems and proved to be suitable as material or material for the production of plastic injection molded parts and / or in the extrusion and / or in the nonwoven production.

Claims (8)

Plastic granules, which is obtained from the melt of a mixture of a polymer with at least one additive as a raw material by the melt is formed into strands via nozzles and after cooling of the strands, a cutting of the strands is performed in individual sections, characterized in that the material of the plastic granules has a weight fraction of at least 50% of polymer and a weight fraction of at least 2% of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid. Plastic granules according to claim 1, characterized in that the material of the plastic granules has a weight fraction of up to 50% of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid. Plastic granules according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the raw material before and / or during melting, a proportion of up to 50% perfluorobutanesulfonic acid is added. Plastic granulate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material of the plastic granules one or more further / s additive / s has. Use of a plastic granulate according to any one of claims 1 to 4 as a material or material additive for the production of plastic injection molded parts and / or in the extrusion and / or in the nonwoven production. A process for the production of a plastic granulate based on a polymer, wherein for the production of the plastic granules, the polymer is melted together with at least one additive as a raw material and formed into strands by one or more nozzles, wherein the strands are cut into sections after cooling of the strands, characterized characterized in that Raw material of polymer and an additive is formed and the polymer before and / or during melting, a proportion of up to 50% perfluorobutanesulfonic acid is added as an additive. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the melting of the raw material is carried out in a screw extruder. The method of claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the raw material before and / or during melting or more other / s Additive / e is added to / are.